Transmission lock



Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

; unirsn stares -.ea.'rsNT oreics.

RUSSELL HUFF, 015 DETROIT, MIGHIGAN ASSTGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, '10

DODGE BROTHERS INC., A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

TRANSMISSION LOCK.

Application filed July 2,

To all 'LflLOHL it may concern.

- Be it known that I, RUssnLL HUFF, a citizen of the U nitcd States, residing at Detroit, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Transmission Locks,

of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description. g

This invention relates to locks for automobiles, and more particularly to locksofthe transmission lock type in which means is provided for holding the gear shift lever from movement.

In certain locks of this type, a holding, or looking sleeve is mounted on. the gear shift 35 lever to slide longitudinallythereof and is arrangedto engage a co-operating holding member carried by the lever housing to lock the lever in neutral position, and the invention may advantageously be employed in connection with a construction of this character. The invention'is not limited, how-- ever, to such a construction. but certain features thereof-maybe employed 1n connection with other transmission locking mechanisms.

. One of the principal objects of the present invention is to produce a transmission lock -lor automobiles in which theholdrng member for the gear shift lever may be locked positively either in operative position. or in K inoperative pOSllHOIL' tnotheiobject of the invention is topr0-.

' vide a novel and improved locking device for locking the holding sleeve or other holding member for the gear shift lever in pos1:

tion.

WVith these objects in view the invention comprises the novel and improved features,

constructions and con'ibinationsof parts hereinafter described and particularly POIIlted out in the claims. the advantages of which will be readily understood and appreciated by those 'skilled in the art. r 1 I T he invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention in its preferred form and the follmving detailed description of the constructions therein shown. 7 in the drawings Fig. 1. is a sectional view of a locking mechanism embodying the invention taken 1921. Serial No. 482,046. P

axis of the gear shift lever illustrating certam of the parts in different positions from those n WlllCll they are shown in F 1g. 1, and

Fig. is a detail View illustrating the gear shift lever in elevation and thel'oclring bolt in section. g

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the locking mechanism is applied to a gear shifting lever indicated at 2 which may be of the usual. construction and arranged for universal movement, in the usual manner. This lever is provided with a ball shaped enlargement indicated at 4 having a universal movement in a bearing formedin the housing 6 for the lever, and ina bearing ring 8 threaded into the upper end of the housing, which holds the enlargement 4: in place n the houslng 6. The lever 2 has a suitable connection at its lower end with the transmission mechanism whereby the gears iare shifted by the usual movements of the ever.

The lockingmechanism for the gear shifting lever 2 is preferably arranged to lock the lever injneutral position. The locking mechanism of the illustrated" embodiment of the invention comprises a sleeve 10 mounted on the gear shifting lever to slide longitudinally thereofJ Thissleeve is, recessed at'its lower end to receive the upper end of the ring 8 and is provided with a flange 12 arranged to engage a flange 14 on said ring when the sleeve isin itslower position to hold the gear shifting lever. from movement. The sleeve '10 is acted upon-by a coiled spring'lti surrounding the gear shifting lever 2 within the sleeve and interposedbetween a shoulder on said sleeve and a shoulder on said lever. which tends to hold the sleeve in its -u1 permost position shown in Fig. 2, the upper movement of the sleeve on the lever 2 being limited by a stop collar 18 mounted on the lever. When the sleeve 10 is in the position shownin' Fig. l the flange 12 on the sleeve "lies above the flange 14 on the ring 8 and the gear shifting lever 2 is free to move in any direction; When it is desired to lock the lever in neutral position, the sleeve 10 1s depressed into the position shown in Fig. 2 against the action of the spring 16, thereby bringing the flange 12 into position to engage the flange 14.

7 Means is provided for locking the sleeve 10 e ther I 1 i s pper or inop r ti e p sition, I

or in its lOWQl or operative position. In the present form of the invention a lock mechanism of the barrel type is provided. This lock mechanism comprises a cylindrical lock barrel mounted to rotate in a hearing; in the sleeve 1th the inner end of which ia cut l1\\'tl on opposite sides thereol as indicated at 2-lin Fig. 3 Forming a rotatable bolt the Width of WlllCl'l is consideably greater than the thickness thereof. The in nor end of the barrel 22 is arranged to engage in a groove 26 cut in the lever 2 and extending longitudinally of the lever. This groove is provided with two enlargements 22 and 2-30 preferably circular in cross section and slightly larger in diameter than the diameter at the barrel 22 and with a contracted portion between the lIWO enlargei'iients, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. the width of the contracted portion being slightly greater than the thickness of the inner end of the barrel in the operation of the mechanism described the sleeve ll) is normally held in its upper or inoperative position, the inner end oi the barrel 22 then engaging in the upper enlargement 30 of the groove 26 and the barrel being turned so that the inner end thereof is in a position transverse to the length of the groove, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. lVhen the barrel 22 is in this position, the sleeve 10 is securely locked in its upper position so that it cannot be depressed into holding position, accidentally or other-- wise. lVhen it is desired to lock the transmission lever, a key is inserted in the loci: for the sleeve 10 and the barrel is turned o that the inner end thereof lies substantially parallel with the axis ol? the groove, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. lVhen the barrel is turned into this position, the sleeve ll) may be depressed into holding positiom the inner end of the barrel passing readil the groove ea between the enlargen'ients 28 and 30. \Vhen the sleeve reaches its lOWLl limiting position. the key is turned to turn the inner end ol'tlie barrel 2-2 into a position tranaverse to the length ol the groove 26, thereby locking the sleeve 1t) in its lower poaition. The lock for the barrel 22 is so constructed that the he 111a only he re moved \v ien the barrel has been turned to locale the inner end thereof in a position transverse to the length of the groove 26. Thus, the sleeve lOis always locked either in its upper or lower position when the/key has been removed.

The sleeve 10, when its lower or holding position eil'cctivelf conceals and obstructs through the contracted portion of access to the ring and so"that the ring Zannot be unscrewed.

The construction described is reliable in operation and strong and durable so that it will remain in order after lon continued use, lliirtherniorm the construction also has the advantage oi simplicity, very little arialion being access-any in the structure of the parts to which the locking devices are applied i'roni'thc usual structure of these parts.

it is to be understood that except as delined in the claims of the present application, the invention is not limited to the particular construction and arrangement of parts of the illustrated embodiment of the invention, but that the invention may he em bodied in other forms Within the scope of the claims. i

l lz'rving explained the nature and object o t the invention and ha ring specilicaltv dc- M'I'lllltitl a device embodying the invention in its preferred form. what is claimed is:

l. A transinissii'm lock construction lltl'i'" lug, in con'ibination, a gear shitting lever mounted for universal movement, means movable longitudinally of the lever to hold and release the lever, and a lock for said interns coui lirising a rotatable bolt having one transverse dimension greater than another, the lever being [)"lOVitiGtl with a groove to receive the bolt varying in Width at diflcrent points and arranged so that the bolt when in one angular position will pass lougitndinallv therethrough, and when in another angular position will he held from 1novemeat ion Zudinallv ol the groove.

2; i l transmission .loclr construction having" in combination, a gear shitting lover means movable longitudinally of said lever to hold and release the lever, a lock :lfor 1027i? .ingsaid means positively either in position to hold raid lever stationary or in position to tlllOW :iid levcr freedom of movement. comprising a rotatable bolt having; one trans verse dimension greater than another, the lever being;- provided with a groove to receive raid bolt haviiiizj tvvo eiiiarpwl pow tiona and a coi'itractcd portion between the enlarged portions arranged so that when the bolt in in a certain a molar position in one of so id enlai portions it will be held from movement through the contracted portion, and when in. another angular posi ion, it ma be moved trom one enlarn ed portion ot the groove, through the coiitinrtinl poriioin to the other enlarged portion thereof.

Signed at Detroit, hlichigran, this of Junta 1921.

27th day li lflSlilLL l-lllllF. 

